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US5143695A - Process and device for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases - Google Patents

Process and device for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases Download PDF

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Publication number
US5143695A
US5143695A US07/790,143 US79014391A US5143695A US 5143695 A US5143695 A US 5143695A US 79014391 A US79014391 A US 79014391A US 5143695 A US5143695 A US 5143695A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
measuring head
calibration gas
gas
composition
analysis
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Expired - Lifetime
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US07/790,143
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English (en)
Inventor
Johannes M. E. van den Burg
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SENSORMEDICS BV
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Mijnhardt BV
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Assigned to ERICH JAEGER, B.V. reassignment ERICH JAEGER, B.V. MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Assignors: MIJNHARDT, B.V.
Assigned to SENSORMEDICS B.V. reassignment SENSORMEDICS B.V. MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ERICH JAEGER B.V.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/0004—Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air
    • G01N33/0006—Calibrating gas analysers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/24—Suction devices
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
    • Y10S436/90—Breath testing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a process for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases, by means of a measuring head which is used for determining the flow rate of the gases to be measured as a function of time, while the composition is analyzed using analysis equipment which is placed a distance away from the measuring head and is connected thereto by a sample line through which gas is drawn using a suction pump.
  • the procedure hitherto has been to feed in by hand, using a balloon, a quantity of a suitable calibration gas in or near the suction aperture of the sample line at the measuring head, and then to determine from the observed time of entry of said calibration gas into the analysis equipment the time required for the flow the gas through the sample line from the measuring head to the analysis equipment.
  • This time will hereinafter be referred to as the "transit time”.
  • This calibration is, however, not accurate, on the one hand because the time of delivery of a quantity of calibration gas by hand cannot be determined accurately, or cannot be correlated accurately with the reading in the analysis equipment and, on the other hand, because the transit time is not a constant.
  • said transit time depends on all kinds of environmental conditions, the temperature being the main factor, but the atmospheric pressure and, for example, the moisture content of the gas to be analyzed also playing a role. Carrying out measurements on gases with variations in the composition with a period of 2 to 3 seconds was therefore so inaccurate that it can be said that such measurements were hitherto impossible.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a solution to this problem and thus to propose a process as well as a device capable of continuously measuring accurately the composition of gases containing variations in the composition which occur during a period of a few seconds.
  • a series of calibration gas impulses are fed from the equipment, and the average transit time of the gases in the conditions prevailing locally at that moment is determined therewith, in order to be able to substantially continuously correlate the flow rate and the composition of the gas.
  • Controlling the delivery of calibration gas impulses from the equipment in this way permits a greater accuracy in the determination of the time at which each pulse is recorded by the equipment again. Any noise phenomena found are overcome by taking an average over a series of calibration gas impulses. The averaging of a series of measurements is thus carried out for the purpose of increasing calibration accuracy and, of course, not for the purpose of removing the effect of possibly changing circumstances. On the contrary, with the idea of the invention it is very easily possible to carry out renewed calibration with great frequency, once it is suspected that a change in circumstances has occurred, or to ensure that such a change has not occurred.
  • a calibration gas will be determined by the analysis facilities in the equipment. If said equipment is, for example, suitable for analyzing the carbon dioxide content, carbon dioxide can by used as the calibration gas.
  • the invention also relates to a device for carrying out the process described above, which device comprises a measuring head which can be connected to the source of the gases to be analyzed, said measuring head being provided with a volume transducer or similar instrument for the continuous determination of the flow rate of the gases to be measured as a function of time, and analysis equipment for determining the composition of the gases, provided with a suction pump is coupled to which in turn connects a sample line connecting the measuring head to the analyzer is connected.
  • said device is characterized by a source of calibration gas in the analysis equipment, a calibration gas line connected line to the sample line at a place a short distance from the suction aperture of the sample line at with the measuring head, means for placing or maintaining the source of calibration gas under pressure, and means for opening a valve in the calibration gas line periodically for the injection of calibration gas impulses, and means for determining the transit time of said calibration gas impulses through the sample line.
  • the moisture content of the gas to be analyzed can have a relatively great influence on the transit time. This applies in particular when, as is often the case, the gas to be analyzed is virtually saturated with water vapor. Cooling down, and thus condensation, occurs in the sample hose. This alters the resistance of the sample line, and thereby also the transit time from the sampling point to the analyzer.
  • the device according to the invention is preferably designed in such a way that the sample line is made of a material which is permeable to water vapor over at least part of the length.
  • a major field of application of the invention is the analysis of human respiration air, in particular for the examination of metabolism processes.
  • the measuring head is then a pipe section through which the person to be examined breathes in and out, and the analysis equipment is designed for determining the O 2 and CO 2 concentrations.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the device
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment, partially in longitudinal section, of a double connecting hose between the measuring head and the analysis equipment.
  • the analysis equipment 1 comprises the gas analyzer proper which is indicated by 2, and which is provided with a suction pump 3.
  • the latter constantly draws gas through the sample line 4, as indicated by the arrow Pl, from the measuring head, indicated in its entirety by 5.
  • the gases to be analyzed enter said measuring head in the direction of the arrow P2, and leave the head in the direction of the arrow P3.
  • the flow passage of the measuring head contains an instrument 6 such as a volume transducer for determining the flow rate of the gas passing therethrough.
  • the analysis equipment also contains a tank 7 for a calibration gas under pressure. It can be delivered by a valve 8 to a calibration gas line 9 with a flow resistor 10 for accurately determining the quantity of calibration gas flowing therethrough being interposed between valve 8 and line 9. This calibration gas flows in the direction of the arrow P4.
  • the calibration gas line is connected to said sample line 4 at a juncture indicated by 11 close to the suction aperture of the sample line 4 at the measuring head.
  • valve 8 Under the control of an electronic control unit, indicated in its entirety by 12, the valve 8 can be opened and closed periodically, in order thus to deliver calibration gas pulses which enter the sample line at juncture 11 and then reach the analyzer 2. The time of arrival of each calibration gas pulse at the analyzer is then fed back to the electronic unit 12, so that the transit time from the point 11 to the entrance of the analyzer can be established.
  • FIG. 2 shows an advantageous embodiment of a combination of the sample line 4 and the calibration gas line 9.
  • the connecting piece 13 is made kinked, so that the bores to be described below can be made easily.
  • the part 14 tapers slightly on the outside, so that it can be inserted easily in a suitable aperture into the measuring head. It is provided with an axial bore 15.
  • the other part 16 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is at an angle of approximately 135° relative to the part 14. It is provided with two longitudinal bores 17, 18. It appears from the drawing that as a result of the angle between the parts 14 and 16, both bores 17 and 18 can connect to bore 15.
  • a flexible thin tube 19 is inserted over some distance into bore 18 and can, for example, be glued in it It is made of a material which is permeable to water vapor and serves as a stabilization hose.
  • Another flexible tube is inserted into the bore 17, not directly in the same way as tube 19, but a short pipe section 21, which can be, for example, of metal, is inserted into bore 17 and also projects over some distance beyond the connecting piece, as shown by 21', so that it can be used for sliding on and possibly gluing the tube material 20.
  • the latter serves as a calibration gas line.
  • the tubes 19 and 20 are fixed in a similar way to the coupling piece 22, which again has two parallel longitudinal bores 23, 24.
  • the end of the flexible tube 19, indicated by 19', is slid over some distance into bore 23.
  • a short metal pipe 25 is again inserted into the bore; the flexible tube 26 is slid onto the part of pipe 25 projecting beyond the coupling piece.
  • the bore 24 in the coupling piece has a metal pipe 27 which projects beyond the coupling piece 22 at both sides.
  • the end of the tube 20' is slid onto the projecting end at one side.
  • the flexible tube 28 is slid onto metal pipe 27.
  • the tube sections 19 and 20 between the connecting piece 13 and the coupling piece 22 are surrounded by a common sleeve 29, which is slid at one side onto the connecting piece 13 at a part 30 with reduced diameter, and at the other side onto a part 31 with reduced diameter of the coupling piece 22.
  • the sleeve 29 serves to keep the tubes 19 and 20 together, but it must, of course, be made of an openwork material such as a woven material, in order to enable tube 20 to fulfill its function.
  • short muffs 32, 33 are respectively slid over the connecting points on the connecting piece 13 and coupling piece 22, as a stabilization of the connections between the tubes 19 and 20 and the pieces 13 and 22.
  • the length of the tube sections 19 and 20 between the connecting piece 13 and the coupling piece 22 is determined by the length needed to reduce the moisture content of the sample gas below the condensation threshold by means of the tube 19 which is permeable to water vapor.
  • the tubes 26 and 28 then bridge the remainder of the distance between the measuring head and the analysis equipment. These tubes 26 and 28 can also be connected to each other over the entire length, so that in cross-section the shape of an 8 is produced, which is the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
  • a sample line 4 between the measuring head and the analysis equipment 1 is approximately 1.8 m long.
  • the suction pump draws 200 to 250 ml per minute of gas through, said sample line out of the measuring head 5 for analysis.
  • the transit time will then be approximately 1 second.
  • the transit time of the sample gas through the sample line must be known with an accuracy of less than 5 msec. This can be achieved in principle if a series of ten impulses of the calibration gas is sent out, in such a way that the valve is alternatingly opened 1 second and closed 1 second.
  • This injection of sample gas can take place at a flow rate of 100 to 150 ml per minute.
  • the transit time is approximately 1.0 sec. Without moisture stabilization the transit time could vary up to 100 msec as a result of condensation, this being approximately 10% of the value of the transit time. In the specific embodiment mentioned, approximately 40 cm was found to be long enough for the moisture stabilization hose 19 to maintain a constant transit time not affected by moisture.
  • the measuring head 5 is the so-called patient mouthpiece with built-in volume transducer. Unlike the analysis of, for example, flue gases, which always run in the same direction according to the arrows P2 and P3 shown in FIG. 1, the air flows through the patient mouthpiece in two directions; the arrows P2 and P3 indicate the direction of flow during inhalation but that direction of flow is reversed for the inspiration.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
US07/790,143 1989-03-31 1991-11-07 Process and device for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases Expired - Lifetime US5143695A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL8900800A NL8900800A (nl) 1989-03-31 1989-03-31 Werkwijze en inrichting voor het kontinu analyseren van de samenstelling van gassen.
NL8900800 1989-03-31

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07500738 Continuation 1990-03-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5143695A true US5143695A (en) 1992-09-01

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US07/790,143 Expired - Lifetime US5143695A (en) 1989-03-31 1991-11-07 Process and device for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US5143695A (nl)
EP (1) EP0390284B1 (nl)
AT (1) ATE99801T1 (nl)
DE (1) DE69005678T2 (nl)
ES (1) ES2048955T3 (nl)
NL (1) NL8900800A (nl)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5515859A (en) * 1993-08-24 1996-05-14 Colorado Health Care Research Corp. Myocardial infarction and ischemia detection method and apparatus
US5739412A (en) * 1995-12-08 1998-04-14 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Gas sampling system having a mouthpiece
US5753508A (en) * 1995-01-17 1998-05-19 Elpatronic Ag Method of testing a function of a detector at an inspection station and apparatus therefor
US6014889A (en) * 1997-11-25 2000-01-18 Siemens Elema Ab Gas analyzer
US6346142B1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2002-02-12 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha System for removing water from a gaseous sample
US6516656B1 (en) 1999-12-28 2003-02-11 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha System for vehicle emission sampling and measurement
US20040060443A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-04-01 Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc. Gas sampling system
US20110161016A1 (en) * 2008-06-10 2011-06-30 Relitech B.V. System for Analyzing A Fluctuating Flow of A Mixture of Gases
US20170265779A1 (en) * 2005-05-10 2017-09-21 Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd. Fluid drying mechanism
US10366594B2 (en) * 2015-05-04 2019-07-30 Mountain Optech, Inc. Oil and gas production facility emissions sensing and alerting device, system and method

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB201018711D0 (en) * 2010-11-05 2010-12-22 Univ Manchester Apparatus and methods for breath sampling

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3903742A (en) * 1974-02-06 1975-09-09 J Tec Ass Inc Disposable respiratory parameter sensor
US4094187A (en) * 1977-07-22 1978-06-13 Champion International Corporation Stack gas analyzing system with calibrating/sampling feature
US4237904A (en) * 1975-07-08 1980-12-09 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Medical apparatus for the measurement of respiratory flow independent of gaseous composition
US4274425A (en) * 1978-05-12 1981-06-23 Sachs-Systemtechnik Gmbh Mouthpiece for a redox gas measuring device
US4278636A (en) * 1979-03-28 1981-07-14 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Calibrating device for a breath alcohol measuring instrument
US4298010A (en) * 1978-11-08 1981-11-03 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Breathing alcohol testing device
US4316382A (en) * 1980-07-21 1982-02-23 Hewlett-Packard Company Detector with intermittent flow
US4316380A (en) * 1979-02-22 1982-02-23 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Method for determining the alcohol content in breathing air
US4448058A (en) * 1982-07-02 1984-05-15 Sensormedics Corporation Respiratory gas analysis instrument having improved volume calibration method and apparatus
US4850371A (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-07-25 Broadhurst John H Novel endotracheal tube and mass spectrometer
US4884460A (en) * 1988-12-01 1989-12-05 Northgate Research, Inc. Device for sensing air flow
US4900514A (en) * 1987-05-01 1990-02-13 Guardian Technologies, Inc. Breath analyzer mouthpiece system

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2035982C3 (de) * 1970-07-20 1974-09-12 Dr. Fenyves & Gut, Basel (Schweiz) Atmungsdiagnosegerät, dem die Atemgase in Abhängigkeit von der Geschwindigkeit des Ausatemstromes zugeführt werden

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3903742A (en) * 1974-02-06 1975-09-09 J Tec Ass Inc Disposable respiratory parameter sensor
US4237904A (en) * 1975-07-08 1980-12-09 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Medical apparatus for the measurement of respiratory flow independent of gaseous composition
US4094187A (en) * 1977-07-22 1978-06-13 Champion International Corporation Stack gas analyzing system with calibrating/sampling feature
US4274425A (en) * 1978-05-12 1981-06-23 Sachs-Systemtechnik Gmbh Mouthpiece for a redox gas measuring device
US4298010A (en) * 1978-11-08 1981-11-03 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Breathing alcohol testing device
US4316380A (en) * 1979-02-22 1982-02-23 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Method for determining the alcohol content in breathing air
US4278636A (en) * 1979-03-28 1981-07-14 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Calibrating device for a breath alcohol measuring instrument
US4316382A (en) * 1980-07-21 1982-02-23 Hewlett-Packard Company Detector with intermittent flow
US4448058A (en) * 1982-07-02 1984-05-15 Sensormedics Corporation Respiratory gas analysis instrument having improved volume calibration method and apparatus
US4900514A (en) * 1987-05-01 1990-02-13 Guardian Technologies, Inc. Breath analyzer mouthpiece system
US4850371A (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-07-25 Broadhurst John H Novel endotracheal tube and mass spectrometer
US4884460A (en) * 1988-12-01 1989-12-05 Northgate Research, Inc. Device for sensing air flow

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5515859A (en) * 1993-08-24 1996-05-14 Colorado Health Care Research Corp. Myocardial infarction and ischemia detection method and apparatus
US5753508A (en) * 1995-01-17 1998-05-19 Elpatronic Ag Method of testing a function of a detector at an inspection station and apparatus therefor
US5739412A (en) * 1995-12-08 1998-04-14 Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Gas sampling system having a mouthpiece
US6014889A (en) * 1997-11-25 2000-01-18 Siemens Elema Ab Gas analyzer
US6346142B1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2002-02-12 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha System for removing water from a gaseous sample
US6516656B1 (en) 1999-12-28 2003-02-11 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha System for vehicle emission sampling and measurement
US20040060443A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-04-01 Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc. Gas sampling system
US6783573B2 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-08-31 Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc. Gas sampling system
US20170265779A1 (en) * 2005-05-10 2017-09-21 Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd. Fluid drying mechanism
US10820834B2 (en) * 2005-05-10 2020-11-03 Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd. Fluid drying mechanism
US20110161016A1 (en) * 2008-06-10 2011-06-30 Relitech B.V. System for Analyzing A Fluctuating Flow of A Mixture of Gases
US10366594B2 (en) * 2015-05-04 2019-07-30 Mountain Optech, Inc. Oil and gas production facility emissions sensing and alerting device, system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69005678T2 (de) 1994-04-28
EP0390284B1 (en) 1994-01-05
ES2048955T3 (es) 1994-04-01
EP0390284A1 (en) 1990-10-03
ATE99801T1 (de) 1994-01-15
DE69005678D1 (de) 1994-02-17
NL8900800A (nl) 1990-10-16

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